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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A successive transposition and repetition of a phrase at different pitches.






2. A lighthearted piece - written in several movements - usually as background music for a social function.






3. Music that is easy to listen to and understand.






4. When several strings are tuned to harmonically related pitches - all strings vibrate when only one of the strings is struck.






5. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1700's to mid 1800's. The music was spare and emotionally reserved - especially when compared to Romantic and Boroque music.






6. Singing in unison - texts in a free rhythm. Similar to the rhythm of speech.






7. A symbol indicating to play loud.






8. Suite of Baroque dances.






9. Two notes that differ in name only. The notes occupy the same position.For example: C sharp and D flat.






10. A direction to play lively and fast.






11. A song or hymn celebrating Christmas.






12. Often used in overtures - a composition that uses passages from other movements of the composition in its entirety.






13. A rhythmic succession of musical tones - a melody for instruments and voices.






14. In sheet music - a symbol at the beginning of the staff defining the pitch of the notes found in that particular staff.






15. A composition written for eight instruments.






16. A set of four musicians who perform a composition written for four parts.






17. A melodic or - sometimes a harmonic idea presented in a musical form.






18. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






19. A repeated phrase.






20. Introduction to an opera or other large musical work.






21. The element of music pertaining to time - played as a grouping of notes into accented and unaccented beats.






22. A reprise.






23. Arrangement of music for a combined number of instruments.






24. A direction in sheet music indicating the tempo is to be very fast.






25. Three note chords consisting of a root - third - and fifth.






26. A piece of music written in triple time. Also an old French dance.






27. A 17th century dance written in Quadruple time - always beginning on the third beat of the measure.






28. Rapid alternation between notes that are a half tone or whole tone apart.






29. A symbol indicating the note is to be raised by one semitone.






30. A quick 20th century dance written in double time.






31. Creating variation pitch in a note by quickly alternating between notes.






32. Music written for a lively French dance for two performers written in triple time.






33. A dance written in triple time - where the accent falls on the first beat of each measure.






34. A scale consisting of only whole-tone notes. Such a scale consists of only 6 notes.






35. A combination of two or more staves on which all the notes are vertically aligned and performed simultaneously in differing registers and instruments.






36. A style of singing which is characterized by the easy and flowing tone of the composition.






37. Music written to be sung or played in unison.






38. Combining a number of individual but harmonizing melodies. Also known as counterpoint.






39. One of the two modes of the tonal system. The minor mode can be identified by the dark - melancholic mood.






40. A glissando or portamento. Also refers to the moving part of a trombone.






41. A 17th century dance written in Quadruple time - always beginning on the third beat of the measure.






42. Initially an improvised cadence by a soloist; later becoming an elaborate and written out passage in an aria or concerto - featuring the skills of an instrumentalist or vocalist.






43. The retuning of a stringed instrument in order to play notes below the ordinary range of the instrument or to produce an usual tone color.






44. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






45. Suite of Baroque dances.






46. Sliding between two notes.






47. First developed in the 8th century - methods of writing music.






48. Combination of two or more keys being played at the same time.






49. A solo concert with or without accompaniment.






50. Group of singers in a chorus.